May 20 2009

Vulvar Vestibule

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This term describes the area between the left and right Labia Minora and below the Clitoris. This is the platform where the Vulva and Urethra mouths out into the outside. Numerous glands also mouth out into the Vulvar Vestibule. The Labia Minora keeps this area closed in to keep debris, dirt and germs out while allowing secretions and menstrual blood to escape to the outside.

This area is pink to reddish and slightly to very wet. If this area is dry, the slightest movement of the Labia Minora will be uncomfortable.

There is a sometimes distinctive dark red or whitish line where the Vulvar Vestibule joins the Labia Minora at its base. This indicates Hart’s Line.

The surface of the Vulvar Vestibule may not be as smooth as indicated in medical texts. It is normally somewhat bumpy and uneven. It can be very bumpy with small protrusions and flaps sticking up and out. It may have another cleft on the outside where it joins the Labia Minora. This is normal. It is supported on the inside by the Pelvic Floor Muscles. The Vulvar Vestibule can be thought of the outside of the Pelvic Floor.

File:Scheidenvorhof.jpg

Smooth Vulvar Vestibule

(License:  By Johnson64 (Own work) [GFDL (<a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html</a>) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Uneven Vulvar Vestibule

(License:  By Johnson64 (Own work) [GFDL (<a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html</a>) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

 

File:Vaginal opening - english description.jpg

Hart’s Line visible where the Labia Minora join the Vulvar Vestibule

(License:  By Labia_separated_exposing_vaginal_opening.jpg: Sci-img derivative work: Lamilli (Labia_separated_exposing_vaginal_opening.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

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